Castine church establishes awards in honor of member

CASTINE, Maine — The governing board of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine established earlier this month the Deborah Pulliam Awards.

The awards were created to honor the memory of the late Deborah Pulliam, former president of the congregation and a philanthropist with wide-ranging interests, according to a press release issued by the church.

“Deborah Pulliam’s interests stretched from her beloved town of Castine to the plight of the poor and dispossessed around the world,” the Rev. Mark Worth, minister of the Castine church said. “In helping those here in Maine, in the nation, and in the Philippines, we continue her legacy.”

The following grants were made:

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• $1,000 to “Help Keep ME Warm This Winter,” a matching-funds project of the Stephen and Tabitha King Charitable Foundation, for fuel assistance for low-income Mainers in the greater Bangor area.

• $1,000 to the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine in support of the Occupy Bangor movement and its concern about the widening gap between rich and poor Americans.

• $500 to Equality Maine in support of its campaign for marriage equality.

• $2,500 to BUILD UU Philippines, a women’s dormitory project of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines.

“Our Unitarian Universalist tradition has embraced the cause of social justice and equality both here and abroad,” Anne Parsons, president of the congregation, said of the awards. “In making these awards, with Deborah’s help, we extend it into the future as well.”